Single Camera Directing

The objectives are to give delegates:

• An understanding of the underlying principles behind shooting and editing, and how to apply them in different circumstances.
• Knowledge of the available camera, sound and lighting kit, and how it can open up creative possibilities.
• The ability to recce, schedule and shoot efficiently; and produce the paperwork involved – call sheets, shooting orders and risk assessments.
• A clear understanding of how to tell a story visually.
• Strategies to get the best from artists, crew and editors.
• And some tips on coping with disasters on location…

Schedule: The course is one day, from 9.15am to 5.30pm with a break for lunch. It’s intense, but also interactive, and illustrated with lots of behind-the-scenes clips.

This course crams a lot into one day, making it both efficient and economical for those unable to make our 2 day or 5 day courses.

Course starts at 9.15am sharp and ends at 5.30pm

Timetable:

0900-0915 Arrive & Coffee

0915-1000 1) Introduction

What makes a good director? Discussion... (& Clips)

The three basic skills areas:

1) Creative which has two sub-divisions: Performance (in front of
camera) and Technical (behind the camera).
2) Organisation (schedules, shooting orders, paperwork, permissions, H&S);
3) Management (dealing with production team, crew, artistes & bosses).

Ultimately it‟s summed up in three words: IDEAS; PLANNING;
COMMUNICATION

1000-1100 2) Basic Knowledge

• Camera kit including what filters do.
• Mounts including Steadicam & Jimmy Jib. Shutters & gain.
• Sound kit & principles of sound recording
• Lighting kit & basic principles of lighting.

Principles of shooting:

• Lenses & what they do to the shot.
• Jargon including correct shot names.
• Rules of framing.
• Visual grammar including why cutting works (and panning doesn‟t), eyelines and crossing the line.

1100-1115 Coffee Break

1115-1215 3) Planning A Shoot
Start by imagining cut sequence.

Recce - creative & logistical. What to look out for. Recce Checklist.
Importance of (in order): parking/coffee/lunch/directions

Organise & Communicate: Scripts, Shooting Order, Risk Assessments.

Scheduling: Being realistic (rule of thumb: Max 5„ a day per camera).
Allowing time for everyone else. Ways to speed up production/save
money on travel.

1215-1245 4) Fun Interactive Quiz On Course So Far

1245-1345 LUNCH – not provided, local shops nearby.

1345-1430 5) On Location

• Typical day on a shoot
• Failsafe plan to shoot ANYTHING
• Most important rule of directing…
• Staging and blocking for presenters/music/drama.
• How to shoot interviews…

1430-1515 6) Exercise

Produce PLAN & SHOOTING ORDER for a complex stunt.
Materials: location photos; script; rehearsal footage.
View sequence as finally cut into programme…

1515-1530 Tea Break

1530-1615 7) Directing Decisions

• Big Picture v Attention to Detail
• Detailed Plan v Leave it to the Cameraperson
• Hosepiping v Several set-ups
• Static Camera v Moving Camera

• Increasing visual interest on location
• Increasing visual interest in the edit

1615-1645 8) Post Production

• Story arcs & vocabulary of editing
• Technical stuff – time-code, digitising etc
• Scheduling the edit
• Grading & Dubbing

1645-1715 9) Managing The Team

• Crew including Art & Lighting;
• Presenters and Actors;
• Producers & Execs;
• Editors (your first critic) & Dubbing Mixers.

1715-1745 10) The Law and Ethics

Law on Location: where can you shoot? When do you need
permission? Who can you shoot? Trespass & Copyright. Music

Ethics: honesty and fairness. Ofcom rules.

1745-1800 Questions and Feedback